Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
A flat 7th chord (A♭7) — guitar chord chart
A♭7 is a dominant 7th chord built on A♭. Its notes are A♭, C, E♭, G♭. The flat 7th adds tension that wants to resolve, which is why dominant 7th chords drive blues and lead back to the home chord. It’s also written G♯7.
A♭7 chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play A♭7
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 4, from the 6th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 5th string, fret 6 (E♭).
- Middle (2) on the 3rd string, fret 5 (C).
- Strum all six strings.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open G7 shape — it sounds as A♭7. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in A♭7
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root |
| 3 | C | major 3rd |
| 5 | E♭ | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | G♭ | minor 7th |
Progressions with A♭7
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the A♭7 chord?
- A♭7 (A flat 7th) has 4 notes: A♭, C, E♭, G♭.
- Is A♭7 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open G7 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between A♭7 and A♭?
- A♭ is A♭ C E♭. The flat 7th adds tension that wants to resolve, which is why dominant 7th chords drive blues and lead back to the home chord.
- Is A♭7 the same as G♯7?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.